Premier Palace Kiev

Our book about the legendary Kyiv' hotel — available in 3 languages. Ukrainian, English and Russian.

In the years of 2019–2022, the Premier Palace Kyiv commemorates 110 Years of Building the Legend, three years of celebrations of the erection of the first modern hotel in Kyiv.

At the corner of Pushkin Street and Shevchenko Boulevard we find Kyiv’s only historic hotel, Premier Palace. Originally called the Palast Hôtel, it was built in 1909–1912. Now the story of this great hotel has been recorded and became part of the library of THE MOST FAMOUS HOTELS IN THE WORLD books.

How was the stage set for such an enterprise?

Well, that’s easy. Since 1908 the idea of an “All Russian Exhibition” encouraged investors to build hotels. Apartment houses rose in various parts of the city – it was one of the most ‘constructive’ periods in the history of Kyiv. Finally, the exhibition was held in 1913. That was sufficient time to build a perfectly equipped hotel: the Palace Hôtel, which would later be renamed Premier Palace - the flagship of the Palace hotel chain in Ukraine. The book Premier Palace Kyiv takes you back to the Kyiv of the 19th century, when the stage was set for an international capital, which would one day govern the largest country of Europe. We read about the days when the city grew into a railway hub, when modern transport turned the ‘mother of all Rus cities’ into a trade centre. We meet Kyiv building tycoon Lev Ginsburg, who built part of the hotel. We come across the brilliant hotelier, Austrian Jacob Zellermeyer, the first lessee of the Palast Hôtel, as it was called. Kyiv’s newspapers immediately hailed the new hotel as ‘luxury premises’. Needless to say, during the All-Russian Exhibition in summer 1913, the most important visitors stayed there. The Great War (1914–1918) brought business to a standstill. During the last year of the war the Palast Hôtel served the Germans as their embassy and consulate to Ukraine. Turkish ambassador Mukhtar-Pasha also stayed in one of the suites. The two neighbouring buildings (which were later incorporated into the hotel) housed the Soviet-Russian embassy and an Austro-Hungarian delegation.

On 14 December 1918 the leader of independent Ukraine (installed by the German forces), Hetman Skoropadsky, made the hotel again the centre des affairs, when he took refuge at the Palace Hôtel. In one of its suites he finally resigned. In the aftermath of the Revolution, the Palast Hôtel was nationalised. Bibikov Boulevard was renamed Shevchenko Boulevard in honour of the most famous Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko. The Palast Hôtel building now housed AUDA - the All-Ukrainian Department of Arts. All cultural institutions, in fact the entire cultural heritage of the country was to be registered in this building. After World War 2 adjacent buildings were joined and the hotel was renovated. During the 1950s the hotel ‘was back’: it had 230 employees, 339 room for 555 guests, a celebrated ‘first-class’ restaurant with a seating capacity of 200, a café-restaurant for 120 people, two banquet halls for 110 people and even two bars, a true Western decadence. The switchboard managed 400 telephone extensions. More services available were a tailor’s workshop, a hairdresser’s salon and a library with a collection of 25,000 books. Patriotically it was renamed Hotel Ukrayina. The hotel was soon rated what would internationally be five stars, its restaurant has kept receiving culinary awards ever since. A wind of change blew from the early 1990s. Important acts paving the way for Ukraine becoming an independent state were drafted and discussed at the hotel. Ukrainian people’s deputies arrived at the hotel from all over the country. Representatives of the Democratic bloc as Vyacheslav Chornovil, Mykhailo and Bohdan Horyn, Volodymyr Filenko, Mykola Porovskiy paved the way for the Ukraine to become an independent state from within the walls of this hotel.

The hotel became such a symbol of the ‘wind of change’ that in April 1991 a division of the Ukrainian Special Forces, which remained loyal to the Soviets, stormed the room of people’s deputy Stepan Khmara on the third floor. He was arrested and jailed. But the path that Ukraine had taken was irreversible. On 24 August 1991 the Parliament of the Ukraine approved the act proclaiming the independence of Ukraine. On 1 December this historical decision was overwhelmingly approved in a nationwide Ukrainian referendum by a 92% majority. Following this new freedom, the hotel employees formed a collective enterprise to successfully keep the hotel open and running. In 1999 it was time for a major facelift. The corner of the hotel was in fact rebuilt, the façade was left intact, the inner part of the hotel removed and replaced by a modern structure, including the impressive atrium we have today. Oleksandr Lytvyn was appointed general director.

In 2005 the hotel reconstruction was completed, giving us not only 290 modern hotel rooms, but also a state-of-the-art fitness centre, a splendid indoor pool, a business centre, a shopping gallery, the most famous confectioner in town, a bakery, the cosiest lobby bar in the East, to name but a few attractions of the new hotel. The name had been changed, too; it was now called Premier Palace Hotel. This inspired the slogan: nomen est omen. The renovated and restored enterprise was immediately and unanimously accepted A Select Member of The Most Famous Hotels in the World®. This was recognition of the perfect blend of a restoration of a heritage property into a modern hotel, paired with a management that shows a deep respect for its remarkable history. Part of a hotel’s heritage is usually a respectable list of famous guests. They all enjoy Kyiv’s most famous hotel as their ‘home away from home’, as Lytvyn likes to see his hotel: ‘Many of our guests have circled the globe more than once. Sometimes, they travel so much that they spend more time in hotels than in their own home. And when they’re tired of travelling, there’s nothing better than to feel the comforts of home, especially when they are in a foreign land! When the Premier Palace opened a hundred years ago, one of its first managers established a rule that we strive to keep to this day: “Our hotel must be a cosy, restful place and serve travellers as a second home while away from their real homes.”’

Kyiv born singer Alexander Vertinskiy even spent several memorable weeks at the hotel in 1955 while filming Flame of Sorrow. Today Suite 439 is named after him. In 1962 Russian film Star Lubov Orlova stayed at the hotel. Of course a suite is named after her, too. All together the hotel has named ten suites after famous personalities or themes. Among locally famous artists, international superstars, politicians and businessmen enjoy the Premier Palace. General director Oleksandr Lytvyn welcomed Brazilian author Paulo Coelho, Prince Michael of Kent, politicians like Colin Powell and Condoleeza Rice and supermodels like Eva Herzigová. Steven Spielberg, Ornella Muti, Sophia Loren, Soccer star David Beckham, Ukrainian singer Ani Lorak, Christina Aguilera, Sir Elton John, British singer Sonique, French cross-over soprano coloratura Emma Shapplin and singer Patricia Kaas can be found in the guestbook. Bohdan Stupka, widely recognised as Ukraine's most famous living actor, loves to come by. Polish film director and screenwriter Jerzy Hoffman regularly enjoys the Premier Palace hotel, as do movie actors like Fyodor Bondarchuk, Hollywood star Eric Roberts and actor Vladimir Vinokur, Russian writer Alexander Rosenbaum also sojourns at the hotel. Stand-up comedian Mikhail Zadornov visits Ukraine on a regular basis and enjoys the hospitality of the Premier Palace. Legendary Soviet ice hockey players Vladislav Tretyak and Alexander Sergeyevich Yakushev join the list of VIPs. Local heroes also stay here, including Pavel Romanovich Popovich, the first ethnic Ukrainian to fly into space as a Soviet astronaut. An A-list crowd flocks to the Premier Palace for fashion shows. Practically every night you find Kyiv’s society gathering at the lobby, getting ready for a night on the town, or sipping their aperitifs before having dinner at the exclusive rooftop restaurant, Terracotta – the Premier Palace’s new flagship restaurant. Its blend of cuisine takes you from America to Europe and from Russia to the Mediterranean. And to Ukraine, of course! Opening night was New Year’s Eve 2009, providing us with a new chapter in the hotel’s history book. You see, another 100 years of history at the Premier Palace were rung in! Andreas Augustin

At 7 Shevchenko Boulevard stands the corner block, housing the main entrance to the hotel. Next to it stands Shevchenko Boulevard 5. Its construction began in 1909, when the street was still called Bibikov Boulevard. Between 1909 and 1912 those buildings were built and combined into the Palast Hôtel. Kiev - a short history of tourism:Kiev in 1835.

In 1869 the city became a railway hub. Naturally, new hotels began replacing the patriarchal “courtyards”. By the end of the 19th century, there were already several dozen hotels in the city. This development meant both an increase in conveniences for the city’s guests and an increase in the number of jobs for its residents. According to census data of 1897, 1,310 men, 594 women (a total of 1,904 Kiev residents) were employed in the hotel and restaurant business in Kyiv. They had to take care of another 1,184 individuals. In short, this profession fed 1.25% of the local population, which totalled 247,723 at the time. However, there were almost no high class hotels in the city, and certainly not one that matched global standards. Onbe of the oldest hotels, dating back to 1856, was the Hotel Europe: Hotel Europe around 1900.

When it became public that the city would hold an All-Russian Exhibition, it was clear that the demand for hotel rooms would rise. The exhibition was postponed year after year, starting in 1908. Finally its date was confirmed with 1913. Reason enough for the city's tourism industry to upgrade and extend its offers. In Details: 1895 Kiev construction tycoon Lev Ginsburg buys the house in Bibikov boulevard 5 to host his construction company HQ. Kiev's Opera House

1908 Ginsburg decided to replace the building by a beautiful mansion. The architect remains unclear, but most likely it was Edward Bradtman (suggests Kiev historian Mikhail Kalnitskyi). 1909 The main building in 5 Bibikov boulevard is almost finished. 1910 Start of the construction of the building in 7 Bibikov boulevard by two architects from Odessa: Adolph Minkus and Faivel Troupyansky. They converted the corner building together with a row of low three-story buildings along Pushkinskaya Street into one solid building in the so-called "rationalized art-nouveau" style. They also built the Ginsburg skyscraper. 1911 January: The whole building in 5 Bibikov boulevard is acknowledged as complete. The building housed 45 apartments and was equipped with an elevator, hot and cold running water, etc. 1911–1914 Austrian citizen Yakiv (Jacob) Zellermeyer leases the hotel from Hetsovych-Mirkin for 36,500 roubles a year excl. water and electricity supplies, repairs and maintenance payments. The Palast Hôtel, today the Premier Palace.

1912 March: the Kievlyanin newspaper carried this small advertisement: ‘Luxury premises with four halls and a café-restaurant in the Palast-Hôtel. Daily from 10 am. Please enquire about terms and conditions at the hotel office.’ 1912 The city business directory "Calendar" names Palast Hotel the top Kiev luxury hotel. 1913 Summer: The All-Russian Exhibition takes place in Kiev attracting over a million visitors in three months, the most important visitors stay at the Palast Hotel 1913 An Austrian spy deceased in Kiev, his room at the Palast Hotel is opened on demand of Russian counter-intelligence.

1914–1918 World War 1

1915 17th January: Because of the Great War a decree is issued to close down the hotel and to deport the (enemy) Austrian subject Zellermeyer. He was given 4 days to do so. On 20 January the Palast Hotel closes down after a brief and most successful career.

The Imperial Family of Russia

1917 The February Revolution in Saint-Petersburgh, followed by the October Revolution in October 1917. The Russian Empire collapses. Communists take the power in Russia, Civil War breaks out in all regions of what used to be the russian empire.

1918 24 January: The still not operating Palast Hotel is hit by artillery bombardment which aimed at the Ukrainian Paliament - Tsentralna Rada, located nearby.

1918 In April Germans enter Ukrainian lands, installing hetman Skoropadksy. Palast Hotel serves the Germans as their embassy and consulate in Ukraine. Turkish ambassador Mukhtar-Pasha also stayed at one of hotel suites. The two neighboring buildings (which were later incorporated into the hotel) housed the Soviet and Austrian consulates in Kiev.

1918 11 November: End of the Great War

1918 On 14 December Hetman Skoropadsky abdicates at the Palace Hotel.

1919 February: Nationalisation of private estate in Ukraine by the communist power takes place. The Palast Hotel is also nationalised. Bibikov boulevard is renamed Shevchenko boulevard in honour of the most famous Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko. The Palast Hotel building houses from now on the office of AUDA - the All-Ukrainian Department of Arts. All cultural institutions and cultural heritage was to be registered in this building.

1926 March: An advertisement in "Globus" magazine for travellers to Kiev features an advertisement of Palast Hotel, renamed "Palast". 1938 The All-Union Car and Motorcycle Racing is celebrated in Palast. 200 athletes gather from 31 cities all across the USSR.

1939–1945 World War 2 1941 22 June: Germany attacks the USSR, Kiev defence breaks in only 72 days. 1941 27 September: Babiy Yar tragedy takes place - one of the largest holocaust tragedies happens in Kiev. About a hundred thousand Jews are murdered. 1943 November: Germans pulled out of Kiev. 1943 The hotel was totally destroyed from inside, only the façade remained

1945: By the end of World War 2, Kiev had suffered badly.

1946 Two adjacent buildings were joined. 1950s The hotel has 230 employees, 339 room for 555 guests, one first-class restaurant with a sitting capacity of 200, a café-restaurant for 120 people, two banquet halls for 110 people and two bars on different floors, telephone station with 400 lines, tailor's workshop, hairdresser's salon and a library with a collection of 25,000 books. 1952 Because of an urgent need to place a delegation, the yet unfinished Palast is put into operation. It was immediately awarded the 1st category, the second highest after extra-class.

1953 The reconstruction of the hotel building is finially finished. The hotel is given a simpler name: "Hotel Ukraina" 1955 Actor Alexander Vertinskiy, born in Kiev but based in Moscow, spent several memorable weeks at the hotel in 1955 while shooting "Flame of Sorrow" at the Dovzhenko studios. He has named (Suite 439 after him). 1960 An interpreter is hired at the hotel to help foreign guests find themselves around. Approximately 1000 foreign guests stay at Ukraina hotel. 1962 Russian Film Star Lubov Orlova stays at the hotel. A suite is named after her. 1964 The hotel expands once again. It incorporates the building in number 3 Shevchenko boulevard, the former "Hotel Marseilles". Now "Ukraina" offers 435 rooms for 805 guests.

1966 The hotels earns its fifth star. It becomes the best hotel in Kiev, and its restaurant kept receiving culinary awards ever since. One of the chefs was Volodymyr Motora, who was awarded the Lenin prize for his professional skills. In co-authorship with Volodymyr Pazyura, the two created many dishes that later became the restaurant's specialities. 1980 Kiev co-hosts the 22nd Olympic Summer Games, namely the the football tournament in group C. Many officials and accompanying fans stay at the Ukraina hotel 1981 Volodymyr Kryulin is appointed the hotel manager 1986 26 April: Tschernobyl disaster. 1988 Kiev celebrates 1000 years of Baptism of Rus. It is said to have happened in Kiev in 988 and was organised by Prince Volodymyr the Great. Three patriarchs Diodor of Jerusalem, the Romanian Patriarch Feoktist and the Bulgarian Patriarch Maxim stay at Ukraina Hotel. 1990 Few famous representatives of the democratic bloc of Ukraine's newly elected Parliament stay at the hotel, among them - Vyacheslav Chornovil, Mykhailo and Bohdan Horyn, Volodymyr Filenko, Mykola Porovskiy drafted and discussed important acts, paving the way for Ukraine becoming an independent state .

1991 24. August: Ukraine proclaims its Independence. 1992 The hotel employees form a collective enterprise to successfully keep the hotel open and running 1998 European Bank of Reconstruction and Development organised a congress at Ukraina hotel. The representatives gave hotel a high appraisal.

Reconstructing the Legend: 1999 Time for a major facelift has come. The hotel will be totally renovated. Construction works on the building at 5 Shevchenko boulevard started, during the second phase of the reconstruction the corner building (No 7) is also renovated. 2000 Oleksandr Lytvyn is appointed general director of the hotel. 2001 August: The building in 5 Shevchenko boulevard is put into operation. 141 rooms, a conference hall and a business center are at guests' service. 2005 10 May: The hotel reconstruction is completed. The second block houses 149 rooms, which makes it a total of 290 rooms at the hotel. The hotel is renamed Premier Palace Hotel. 2006 Premier Palace becomes A Select Member of The Most Famous Hotels in the World®. The hotel is awarded various prestigious hospitality prizes. 2008 More than once the hotel is called the "best hotel in Ukraine".

2009–2012: Premier Palace Kiev celebrates 100 Years of Building the Legend, a three years memorial celebrating the erection of the first modern hotel in Kiev, a tribute to a centenary of international hospitality in Ukraine and a glowing testimonial of modern Ukrainian hospitality standards.

1990: On 18 July 1990 the parliament of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic declared the Ukraine a sovereign state. Ukrainian people’s deputies arrived at the hotel from all over the country. Such famous representatives of the Democratic bloc as Vyacheslav Chornovil, Mykhailo and Bohdan Horyn, Volodymyr Filenko, Mykola Porovskiy paved the way for the Ukraine to become an independent state from within the walls of this hotel. The hotel became such a symbol of the ‘wind of change’ that in April 1991 a division of the Ukrainian Special Forces, which remained loyal to the Soviets, stormed the room of people’s deputy Stepan Khmara on the third floor. He was arrested and jailed. But the path that Ukraine had taken was irreversible. On 24 August 1991 the Parliament of the Ukraine approved the act proclaiming the independence of Ukraine. On 1 December this historical decision was overwhelmingly approved in a nationwide Ukrainian referendum by a 92% majority. ______________

The Hotel’s designers and architects have uniquely created 10 very original suites: Roxolana (# 219)

Roksolana Suite.

Such details of interior decor as an unusual white cage around the television and beautiful drapes on the windows give the room a romantic style. The room area is 36.2 square metres, the bathroom equipped with a bidet is 5.5 square metres. Queen Size bed (160 ?? wide). Hetman (# 319) This panorama suite is done in the Ukrainian baroque style. It has oak parquet, a spade with a horse’s hair on the wall and a “wolf skin” on the bed. If you want to feel the spirit of Ukrainian antiquity then this room is for you. The room area is 37.7 square metres, the bathroom equipped with a bidet is 5.5 square metres. Queen Size bed (160 ?? wide). Lubov Orlova Suite (# 417) Two-room suite decorated with delicate roses. It is named after the first movie star of Soviet cinema and one of the leading actresses of the 20th century: Lubov Orlova. The room area is 42.6 square metres. The suite consists of a living room and a bedroom. King Size bed (180 ?? wide). The bathroom, which adjoins to the bedroom, is equipped with a bidet and is 11 square metres. Feng Shui (# 419) This panorama suite is for lovers of natural materials and colors. The hotel consulted with experts of feng shui to bring you serene colours and specially arranged furniture offering you a meditative atmosphere and maximum relaxation. The room area is 37.7 square metres, the bathroom equipped with a bidet is 5.5 square metres. Queen Size bed (160 ?? wide). Vertinsky Suite (? 439)

Roksolana Suite.

This stylish and laconic two-room suite has light walls, elegant curtains, and cosy furniture. The suite is named in honour of one of the greatest guests of the Hotel, the famous Russian singer Alexander Vertinskiy who visited us in 1955. The suite will best suit guests who appreciate elegant simplicity. The room area is 38.7 square metres. The suite consists of a living room and a bedroom. Queen Size bed (160 ?? wide). The bathroom, which adjoins to the bedroom, is equipped with a bidet and is 6.5 square metres. Wedding Suite (# 519) An exquisite panorama suite for newlyweds with furniture and an interior design that accentuate the memories of the first special days you spend together. King Size bed (180 cm wide). The room area is 36.5 square metres, the bathroom equipped with a bidet and a Jacuzzi is 6,8 square metres. Hi-Tech (# 619) A laconic urban panorama style is supplemented by an interesting colour design solution. You will find in this suite everything that a contemporary person wants to fully relax including a wide screen plasma television. The room area is 36.9 square metres, the bathroom equipped with a bidet is 6.8 square metres. Queen Size bed (160 ?? wide). Serge Lyfar Suite (# 625) Light like a cloud, aspiring and graceful like pas in the performances of the great dancer (and later master of ballet). This was the name given to an elegant double suite with a huge balcony and view over T. Shevchenka Boulevard. The room area is 43.3 square metres. The suite consists of a living room and a bedroom. King Size bed (180 ?? wide). The bathroom, which adjoins to the bedroom, is equipped with a bidet and is 9.6 square metres. Vysotsky Suite (# 639) The famous Russian songwriter Vladimir Vysotsky enjoyed staying at the Ukraina Hotel (a former name of the Premier Palace Hotel) and it is quite likely that the two-room suite decorated in dark blue tones would have inspired the bard to write wonderful songs about Kiev and its residents. The room area is 35.2 square metres. The suite consists of a living room and a bedroom. Queen Size bed (160 ?? wide). The bathroom, which adjoins to the bedroom, is equipped with a bidet and is 5.9 square metres. Bulgakov Suite (# 719) One of the best panorama suites located on the 7th Executive Floor with a fantastic view of the city. This mysterious though elegant suite is dedicated to the beloved writer who lived in Kiev. The room area is 34.1 square metres, the bathroom equipped with a bidet is 6.8 square metres. Queen Size bed (160 ?? wide).

The atrium of the Premier Palace accommodated the huge Christmas tree every year.

The Premier Palace Hotel is located in down town Kiev. It offers easy access to all the major places of interest in this vibrant city. The business & finance district, the opera house, all important department stores and Kiev's historical sights are in walking distance.

The flower arrangements of the Premier Palace are a daily source of pleasure.

Terracotta Restaurant is the new restaurant of the Premier Palace, a wonderful place - from breakfast to dinner.The view offers a mixture of historic and modern Kiev.

Torn between the holy monastery of Lavra, a new exhibition at a gallery or a night at the opera, Kiev is a city of many diversions. During the research of this book the management of the Premier Palace, the flagship of the Premier Hotel Group, very kindly – and in time – opened Terracotta, the restaurant on the rooftop of the Premier Palace. It is the place to start the day with at breakfast, and to end it with a sumptuous dinner. Before one goes to bed one doesn’t want to miss the buzzing atmosphere at the bar, where barkeeper Victor and his team mixes and serves the classics. A walk through Kiev's historical part of the city is also a must. A visit to the Opera House with a performance by its world famous (especially ballet) ensemble is highly recommended. For a good overview of "What's Going On" we recommend to turn to //whatson-kiev.com

The hotel - with its great pool - is in fact very children friendly. Recommended for travelling families.

The pool has 28°.

We do enjoy the recreation facilities at the Premier Palace. The Gym, the pool, the saunas and steam rooms. There are also private sauna and massage rooms available. Kiev's best hairdressing salon is on the ground floor of the hotel.

Extensive facilities available. Contact hotel for details.

Ukraine is a very fashion orientated country, ladies wear the latest fashion, gentleman wearing jackets and ties are never out of place.

Happiness is made to be shared, knew the great French dramatist Jean Baptiste Racine (†1699).
Fill in the form below to allow us to send you our free newsletter "Feuilleton" — and we start sharing our stories and research with you. You can change your subscription any time. And while you are here, you can share with us your favourite famous hotels.
Thank you
Your Hotel(Hi-)Storyteller
Andreas Augustin & Team